The Korea Information Society Development Institute (KISDI) hosted the 2016 International Conference on South-North Korea Broadcasting Communication with Korea Communications Commission at Seoul COEX Harmony Ballroom, Seoul Intercontinental on November 3.

Under the theme “roles and tasks of broadcasting communication in preparing for unification,” this conference sought to analyze the status of broadcasting communication in South and North Koreas and to discuss the current status of the international society and the unification of the Korean peninsula.

Around 300 people, including Chairman Choi Seong-jun of the Korea Communications Commission, President Dowhan Kim of KISDI, National Assemblymen Byun Jae-il of the Future Planning, Science, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee of the National Assembly, broadcasting communication experts from major countries such as China, Japan, Germany, Russia, and Ireland, experts on issues of the Korean Peninsula, people affiliated with foreign embassies in Korea, journalists in and out of the country, and those from academic societies, attended the conference.

The international conference consisted of three sessions. In session 1, which was presided over by Professor Choi Dae-seok of Ewha Women’s University, Researcher Kim Jong-seon from the Science and Technology Policy Institute (analysis on broadcasting communication and science technology policies by the Kim Jong-un regime) and Seo Heung-su, head of the technology bureau at KBS Chuncheon HQ (status of broadcasting communication technology in North Korea and changes in trends on media usage), gave keynote presentations.

In session 2, which was presided over by Professor Ahn In-hae of Korea University, Professor Liu Yongtao of Fudan University (cooperative model of South Korea, North Korea, and China and future of East Asia) and Bernhard Seliger of the Hanns Seidel Foundation (cooperation with North Korea through international organizations) gave keynote presentations; various discussions were also held regarding the methods of utilizing international organizations as well as the relationship between North Korea and China for normalizing the relationship between South and North Koreas.

Lastly, in session 3, which was presided over by Kim Hui-yeong, honorary ambassador of the National Unification Advisory Council, Director Vitaly Mansky (film “Under the Sun”), Representative Natalia Manskaya (film “Under the Sun”), Director David Kinsella (film “The Wall”), and PD Gong Yong-cheol from KBS attended as panel for a talk show under the theme “Cultural sympathy in preparation for unification,” discussing the film production environment in North Korea, the latest status of North Korean society, and the implications on broadcasting cooperation between South Korea and North Korea.

Contact: Research Assistant Seo So-young (043-531-4412)
Department of International Cooperation Research